Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu Cruise

Arrive in Lima, Peru’s thriving capital, and transfer to the convenient Wyndham Costa del Sol, connected to the airport. Most international flights arrive in the late evening. Opt to arrive early for a Lima pre-voyage extension staying at the iconic Country Club Lima Hotel. The extension adds just a day to the expedition and gives you a chance to rest, relax, and see this UNESCO World Heritage designated city.

Arriving in Cusco, drive through the Sacred Valley to Chinchero, a typical Andean village where National Geographic Grantee Nilda Callañaupa joins us for lunch and a demonstration of Inca weaving traditions. Continue to Ollantaytambo and board our late afternoon scenic train to Machu Picchu and check in at our hotel. We stay for two nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, with Andean-style casitas set inside a private mountainside reserve with 300 species of orchids. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Take the full day to explore Machu Picchu, the Inca royal retreat introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 National Geographic magazine. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco, where we explore the ornate 17th-century cathedral and Plaza de Armas, the sacred Inca Temple of the Sun, and other treasures of this burgeoning cultural capital and center of the Inca universe, where colonial buildings stand atop Inca foundations. Check in at Palacio del Inka in the historic center. Dinner is on your own tonight to explore nearby restaurants or rest and relax at the hotel. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, fly via Lima to Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon basin, and continue overland to the riverside village of Nauta, where the Delfin II awaits. Settle into your cabin and gather for a welcome dinner of fine Peruvian cuisine on board. Tonight, step out on deck to gaze at the magnificent Amazon night sky. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a pristine swath of jungle stretching more than five million acres and harboring some of the Amazon’s most fascinating flora and fauna. The reserve is bordered by the Marañón and the Ucayali, two powerful rivers that converge to create the famed Amazon, which floods annually with nutrient-rich waters and is known locally as the Mirrored Forest for the reflections created by its seasonal glassy water. Set out into this remarkable wilderness on daily excursions by skiff, kayak, and, when the water level permits, hikes on dry land. Look for sloths and monkeys, including variably colored saddleback tamarins, noisy howlers, and shaggy-tailed monk saki monkeys. Watch for an astounding variety of birds, from tanagers and hummingbirds to parrots and endangered scarlet macaws. In the river, look for massive paiche fish, the Amazon’s largest; rare pink dolphins; and the infamous piranhas. One of the unexpected joys of traveling in the Upper Amazon of Peru is the interaction we have with the local ribereños, the traditional people who live on the riverbanks. Visit the local non-profit Minga Peru, including a program of handicraft development, radio broadcasts, women’s health initiatives, and efforts in sustainable farming. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark in Nauta, stopping at the Amazon Rescue Center on the drive to Iquitos. Fly to Lima, where we visit Museo Larco and celebrate with a farewell dinner before late-night flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about options to extend your stay, including an overnight at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport hotel. Departure Time: After 7:00 PM local time. Departure City: Lima. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Itineraries are subject to change.